Walking and mHealth to Increase Participation in Parkinson Disease

Parkinson disease (PD) is one of the most disabling chronic health conditions affecting older
adults globally. While advances in medical and surgical management of PD have increased
lifespans, these have not effectively altered the progressive decline in physical function
and quality of life associated with PD. Identifying effective ways to improve function, slow
decline and prevent or reduce disability remains of utmost importance in PD. Of particular
concern in PD is gait decline, which is considered a red flag signaling emerging disability.
Prior work has shown that people with PD experienced a 12% decline in amount of walking over
one year - despite relative stability of motor impairments during that year. Treatment
targeting walking, the most rapidly changing aspect of disability in PD, may have the
greatest influence on slowing the impact of disease progression on physical function and
reducing disability.

Traditionally, rehabilitation has targeted impairments and functional limitations with the
expectation that gains would translate into greater participation in real-world activities.
However, the evidence suggests that this does not occur. In this proposal, the investigators
suggest a paradigm shift in which the primary target of the intervention is real-world
walking behavior, as greater walking activity could preserve walking function and slow
disability. The primary factors that limit engagement in walking in PD are psychological
(e.g., low self-efficacy) rather than physical (e.g., motor impairments) in nature. As such,
investigators will evaluate a cognitive-behavioral approach, grounded in social-cognitive
theory and targeted at enhancing walking activity. This "connected behavioral approach" links
physical therapists to persons with PD using a mobile health (mHealth) platform to deliver
strategies to increase self-efficacy and provide goal-oriented, dynamic walking routines and
walking enhancing exercises over one year. This approach will be compared to a control
intervention which provides equivalent components and dosing of walking and a walking
enhancing exercise program delivered by physical therapists but without a
cognitive-behavioral mHealth approach. Investigators hypothesize that the mHealth group will
demonstrate higher amounts of walking activity and greater walking capacity relative to the
control group. With regard to mechanism underlying improvements in the mHealth group, it is
hypothesized that self-efficacy will mediate changes in amount of walking and that changes in
amount of walking will mediate changes in walking capacity over one year. The insights to be
gained regarding mechanisms underlying changes noted will be critical to inform
rehabilitation interventions designed to encourage sustained, long-term physical activity. If
effective, our "connected behavioral approach" offers a unique, generalizable and scalable
means to increase walking activity and improve walking capacity, thereby reducing disability
in PD and perhaps in other chronic progressive conditions.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of idiopathic, typical Parkinson disease according to the UK Brain Bank
Criteria;

2. Hoehn & Yahr stages 1-3 (mild to moderate disease severity);

3. Stable on all PD medications for at least 2 weeks prior to study entry;

4. Willing and able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. < 18 years of age;

2. Pregnant;

3. diagnosis of atypical Parkinsonism;

4. Hoehn & Yahr stages 4-5

5. a score of > 2 on item 7 of the new freezing of gait questionnaire (moderately or
significantly disturbing freezing episodes during daily walking);

6. significant cognitive impairment;

7. unstable medical or concomitant illnesses or psychiatric conditions, which in the
opinion of the investigators would preclude successful participation;

8. cardiac problems that interfere with ability to safely exercise

9. orthopedic problems in the lower extremities or spine that may limit walking distance;

10. unable to walk for 10 continuous minutes independently;

11. live in an institution or medical facility (i.e. not in the community)